Indian Health Care Improvement Act

The Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), the cornerstone legal authority for the provision of health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives, was made permanent when President Obama signed the bill on March 23, 2010, as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The authorization of appropriations for the IHCIA had expired in 2000, and while various versions of the bill were considered by Congress since then, the act now has no expiration date. Read the entire IHS Press Release.

S. 1790[PDF - 689KB] As reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs was enacted into law, with minor changes, by section 10221 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590. H.R. 3590 became Public Law No: 111-148[PDF - 489KB]